Leah won over the audience at last Tuesday’s StorySlam at L’Etage (featured in yesterday’s Inquirer!) with her account of a most inept bike thief (Didn’t he notice someone was standing a few feet away? Didn’t he consider the possibility it was the bike’s owner???). And in case you missed Meghan’s winning story of the night, check it out here.

Three of our winningest (is that a word?) storytellers will share the stage at L’Etage tonight when host Katonya Mosley, guest storyteller Doug Didyoung and guest judge Naomi Brownstein team up. For a taste of what you’re in for, check out one of my favorite Doug stories from the 2009 Grand Slam below. I wonder what he’ll have to say on the theme of Faulty Logic at tonight’s Slam?


First Person StorySlam
L’Etage, 6th and Bainbridge
21+
Doors at 7:30, Slam starts at 8:30
$10, $8 for FP members
$4 well drink specials

“I’ve been on 20 story buildings and been blown 30 feet to the side. You know, like the whole rig was just blown out over the street. And I’m looking down at taxi cabs and I’m like, ok, I’m scared now.”


Thanks to favorite Slam storyteller and host Tre Rials (@nolaphilly) for the tip on Up There, a short look inside the very difficult, dangerous, peaceful, beautiful, antiquated world of the billboard painter. I’m trying to think of handpainted walls in Philly and can only think of the Arts Parlor and the wall of Mercato at Spruce and Camac. Any others come to mind?


Come across something cool in the world of memoir and documentary? Let me know and it may find its way on the blog!

UP THERE from The Ritual Project on Vimeo.

It took a three-way Story-Off to determine the winner of last night’s StorySlam at L’Etage. The night’s predetermined theme was “Whoppers” but the audience quickly chose the theme of “Smells” and our storytellers had a mere two minutes to make up the judges’ minds during the Story-Off.


Tremaine Johnson walked away as the overall winner but his story-off opponent Natala Covert won the audience vote. Check out both of their original “Whopper” stories and their story-off “Smells” stories and judge for yourself.


Tremaine…





Natala…

Raeann made a fateful decision one day while traveling through the Badlands. As a result, she has “unfinished business” with none other than Amy Grant. Luckily, for us, she has a story about it and walked away from last night’s Slam as the Audience Favorite.




Raeann’s video is below. (Keep a lookout for host Jen Childs’ shocked face when Raeann knocks Public Enemy.) And our overall Slam winner, Ben Drinen, is featured on Philebrity!


Our next Slam is THIS Saturday at the Free Library Festival. It’s the Second Annual Inter-City StorySlam: Philly vs. DC. This FREE event is an awesome chance to support our town’s storyspinning masters as they face off against some chumps from the Beltway.

Watching a recent comedy show by Turae, a Philly comedian you should definitely check out, made me think. It is very hard sharing a story! Let’s face it; being on a stage isn’t easy. There are those bright lights, strange faces plus that initial awkward silence that can seem like an eternity.


Turae on his basketball career and student loans



Yet somehow comedians get on stage night after night and not only share stories, but share ones that are aimed to get us to laugh. And anyone who has told a bad knock-knock joke knows how hard that is.
(Orange you glad I didn’t say banana?)


What I might find hilarious might only make you chuckle. So it is up to the comedian to mix together the experiences that we both may or may not have to get it a big belly laugh for both of us.


My favorite example is Jerry Seinfeld. His stand up is based on every day experiences and life stories. The things every adult has noticed despite age, race, or social standing. His observations are so funny he got nine seasons of a “show about nothing.”


Jerry Seinfeld on Letterman



When you think about it, comedy may be the hardest form of storytelling. If you want to watch some pros tell a funny story, Helium Comedy Club always has a good mix of comedians; many from notable television shows.


Ever think your stories are good enough to try some stand up? The Comedy Cabaret offers an affordable humor workshop and comedy class. With what you learn you could try your new material out at Laff House Comedy Club’s new comics corner on Wednesdays. Maybe your more of a SNL or Who’s Line is it anyway type. Philly Improv Theater offers improv and sketch comedy classes.


So when you’re at a StorySlam, relax. You can pride yourself on knowing that your story doesn’t have to make us laugh, you just have to share it. Your next chance is on April 12th at World Cafe Live. The theme is Perfect Storm. Doors open at 7:30, slam starts at 8:30. Admission is $10, $8 for members. Our host is Philly comedienne, writer and director Jen Childs of 1812 Productions, Philly’s all-comedy theater company.


-Tiffany Thwaites

If you’ve been to a Story Slam or two, you’ve seen Kendra Gaeta weaving a tale with the audience in stitches. And if you’re a social media geek (like me) with your ear to the ground, you’ve heard the coming roar of the new marketing campaign for the Ford Fiesta. A renegade marketing campaign across multiple social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, twenty teams in sixteen cities, including two here in Philly, are driving and talking about the Fiesta, including our own Kendra. Follow Kendra as she completes Fiesta missions with Team Philly, be all up in her business on Twitter, and also checkout her Story Slam videos below, including her story for the ‘09 Grand Slam!


Also, a small story of my own about the cat picture before we get to the videos.  Of course, we like to put pictures on the blog because you like to look at pictures.  Today I included a picture of a cat, partially because I am clever and I know you constantly check that blog of grammatically incorrect “kittehs” from your iPhone or Blackberry and I really think this might make the First Person Arts blog go viral.  However, there’s a deeper reason.  Mostly I’ve written about professional artists and snagged head shots from their websites plus images of their art.  This wasn’t the case with Kendra and it seemed creepy stalkerish to pull a picture of her from Facebook, so I settled on pulling a picture of her cat, Geno.  (Or what I assume is her cat Geno since in her “Good Intentions” video below she talks about a black and white cat she has named Geno.)  If it’s the wrong cat or I’m still a creepy stalker for all of that, apologies to all offended parties!


The three videos below are from the Story Slams with themes “Good Intentions,” chronicling Kendra’s experience with a dead on pet psychic (we hope kitties Geno and Alice get along one day!), “Showing Off,” where we learn of her short lived music career from open mike nights to one glorious evening opening at the Knitting Factory, and, finally, her story from the 2009 Grand Slam “Letting Go,” which is about a secret and I’ll let you find out for yourself what it is.


- J. Rudy Flesher

Many of our readers may be familiar with the Philadelphia based Asian Arts Initiative, having attended the Asian American Arts Festival, or one of their workshops, gallery shows, or film screenings. Asian Arts Initiative recently celebrated their relocation to a new facility in Chinatown and expanded their offerings to include an open mic event called Family Style, which is similar in format to our StorySlams. Family Style is a monthly series held through May (every third Friday) inviting extended “family” from all communities and cultures to hit the open mic with poetry, stories and other performance.


Each event is hosted by Michelle Myers and Catzie Vilayphonh of Yellow Rage (warning: this clip contains graphic language), and features a different guest artist and theme. This Friday, March 19th at 7:30 pm join artist Sham-e-Ali al-Jamil at Family Style to celebrate Women’s History Month with the theme Holding Up Half the Sky: A Tribute to Women. Interested participants should contact Michelle[at]yellowrage[dot]com to reserve a spot, and visit the Asian Arts Initiative website for more details on the open mic format and rules.


- Sarah Crawford

Nick found this interesting compilation of interviews with 82 women working in film and tv about the type of movies they would make with an unlimited budget and the women who have inspired them.


The impetus for the project was Kathryn Bigelow’s Oscar nomination and the question, “Why haven’t more women been nominated for Best Director?”. The responses reveal the wide diversity of interests and experiences of these women working in the film and tv industry. I’m curious to see what the filmmakers behind 82Women do next with the project. Ten minutes offers you just a taste of what these 82 women have to say on the topic.


For more info on the project visit www.82women.tumblr.com.


Any female filmmakers out there want to join the discussion? Let us know what you think in the comments section.







- Karina

AND he was the Audience Favorite at Monday’s Slam at World Cafe Live. Congrats Donald!


P.S. Love the prop!